St. Eloi, Lionel (Haitian, b. 1950)

Lionel St. Eloi
Lionel St. Eloi

Lionel St. Eloi was born in 1950 in Port-au-Prince and grew up in the “Carrefour Feuilles” neighborhood where he still lives today. After having first cut his artistic “teeth” on ceramics, drawing and painting at Poto Mitan, he was introduced to Le Centre d’Art in 1972 where he took classes with Antonio Joseph, Franck Louissant and participated in life at the Center.

At first he dedicated himself to painting, but towards the 1990s, due to the lack of painting material because of the embargo, he started to explore salvaged sculpture and used materials like aluminum, old metal files, barbed wire, used parts, forks, flowers, jewelry, etc. His sculptures, often inspired by mystic elements are a unique genre, and quickly gave him international recognition.

His works have been exhibited internationally, in particular at the Grand Palais, the Abbaye de Daoulas, the Halle Saint-Pierre, the Fowler Museum, the Ramapo College Art Gallery, the Musée du Montparnasse, the Outsider Art Fair of NY and the Arco in Madrid. His work is part of the permanent collections at the Waterloo Museum, Le Centre d’Art and the Musée d’Art Haïtien du Collège Saint-Pierre.

Dedee Bazile carrying the body of Dessalines, 1993
Dedee Bazile carrying the body of Dessalines, 1993
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Le Centre dArt
Bewitchment, n.d.
Bewitchment, n.d.
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Le Centre dArt
We Count on Children, 1992
We Count on Children, 1992
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Le Centre dArt
Les Sirenes, n.d.
Les Sirenes, n.d.
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Waterloo Center For the Arts
Le Recoite des Semeurs, 1989
Le Recoite des Semeurs, 1989
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Candice Russell Collection
La joie de vivre
La joie de vivre
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Maitre Grand Bois, 1979
Maitre Grand Bois, 1979
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Where Art Is Joy - Selden Rodman
Untitled (Ra Ra)
Untitled (Ra Ra)
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Gardere Collection
Marriage Procession, 2005
Marriage Procession, 2005
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Gessen Collection
The People Attack the Tontons, 1986
The People Attack the Tontons, 1986
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Island On Fire: Jonathan Demme
The People Ambush Duvalier Forces, 1986
The People Ambush Duvalier Forces, 1986
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Island On Fire: Jonathan Demme
Bad Wish Come True, 1985
Bad Wish Come True, 1985
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Island On Fire: Jonathan Demme Matt Dunn Collection
Dancing Gedes, 2007
Dancing Gedes, 2007
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Gessen Collection